Unlocking job success: The secrets no one else will tell you!

"Job Hunting" is akin to having a full-time job. Unless you're a ?? pink unicorn, you need more than simply crafting a resume, drafting a cover letter, and applying to job postings day after day. It mirrors a salesperson's or an entrepreneur's efforts, and here's why:

Do you know your value proposition as a professional?

Like any company pitching its services, you must answer an obvious yet often overlooked question: why you? Why should I hire you over your competitor?

As a starting point, I recommend doing this exercise thoroughly and in the best way possible. It's beneficial if you're reinventing yourself professionally or unsure about your career path:

Tip: If you can summarize your professional value proposition as simply as Airbnb did in their first investment pitch deck, I suggest adding it to your LinkedIn Header . It's the first thing people will read about you.

In your LinkedIn header, you can use keywords that best describe you. I think SEO is essential ; your content should align with recruiters' search intentions.

Define your OKRs and focus on quality over quantity!

You might be familiar with the old management objective methodology created by Intel in the '70s and popularized by Google when they adopted it in 1999: The OKR Framework .

Set a clear objective, propose a series of actions to reach, and set a reasonable timeline (a quarter).

Even though it seems odd without a team, it applies well to job hunting as it optimizes time and focus. Here's an example:

Objective: Secure ten job interviews for a Marketing Manager position in the next three months.

• Key Result 1: Optimize my LinkedIn profile to achieve a 70 Social Selling Index (SSI) .
• Key Result 2: Create a website that showcases my story, projects, and experience. I love Rafael Conde's example!
• Key Result 3: Get 10 "Champions" (trusted friends or former colleagues) to refer me.
• Key Result 4: Create three distinct resumes highlighting differences in design and content (no fluff!). There are many valuable tools; trying several to find your fit is best.
• Key Result 5: Apply to 50 job postings, even if they're not my dream job, as it's always suitable for learning. Dive into as many job platforms as you can! ?? Here are some for remote work: 1. remote.co 2. nodesk.co 3. flexjobs.com 4. pangian.com 5. remotely.jobs 6. remotive.com 7. remote4me.com 8. remotehabits.com 9. wahjobqueen.com 10. workingnomads.com 11. weworkremotely.com 12. dynamitejobs.com 13. remoteok.com 14. freelancer.com 15. wellfound.com 16. justremote.co

(You can have multiple Objectives if you give your all and stay focused. Otherwise, it can become frustrating, and it's better to tackle them one at a time.)

Who is your target audience?

Like in B2B sales, when job hunting, it's crucial to develop a blueprint of our "ideal hirer," similar to the Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) and Buyer Persona concept in sales , please take the same approach to pinpoint the type of company where you think you'd fit best and, most importantly, understand what truly motivates you. Without clear motivation, focusing becomes much more complicated.

Identifying the individuals involved in the hiring process can be beneficial for better preparation, though this will vary significantly depending on the company's size and process flow.

??♂? There's a handy tool (Crystalknows )—a plugin you can connect to LinkedIn—that generates a comprehensive report on the person. This can significantly assist in tailoring your approach to each specific situation.

Sell yourself. What's not communicated doesn't exist.

Just like with any brand, if it's not communicated, it doesn't exist. So, you'll need to push yourself out of your comfort zone and start posting valuable content where your audience is, clarifying what you want to contribute and how you want to position your brand. The sooner you start building it, the better.

? Time flies.

LinkedIn is important because it focuses on the professional sector (though sometimes it feels like Facebook ??). If you're consistent, it allows you to create brand awareness in your audience's mind, which can bring significant value in the long term, like finding a great opportunity, landing a new client, or joining an exclusive community.

• Ask for references! Employee referrals have the highest ROI. Move within your circle of friends, family, friends of friends, former colleagues, acquaintances from the gym, etc. You never know who can give you a golden pass! When entrepreneurs gear up to raise their first round of investment, they turn to their inner circle, knowing those closest to them will likely be the most supportive and willing to invest.
• Try different channels: It's like when a startup has to go out and sell. You might guess which channels will convert better, but you must experiment. Slack groups and LinkedIn, Telegram channels, Twitter, job portals , specialized headhunters , online events, etc., anywhere you can interact with the right people to achieve your goal: the interview.
• "Don't be afraid to be different. Be afraid if you're the same as everyone else." If you're job hunting, there's nothing worse than going unnoticed. ?? Think outside the box. Some examples:

1. Record a 1-minute video introducing yourself.
2. Create your website to tell your story (like my friend Javier ).
3. Send your resume via traditional mail to the company's office with packaging that causes a WOW effect.
4. As Marta did, create a viral AI video to explain your professional value proposition .

Would you be willing to sponsor a well-known newsletter with your personal brand to secure an interview? ??

Automate and follow up

This point is only for some but for those comfortable with digital tools.

• As salespeople log everything in their CRM, ideally, when job hunting, you should rely on a tool to centralize all information (companies and positions you apply for, process status, comments, references, reason for rejection, etc.), keep it updated, and follow up. From a simple Word document through Excel to tools I'm a fan of, like Notion , anything can be helpful if well-organized.
• Regarding LinkedIn, although customization is vital, you can still use tools like MeetAlfred or Waalaxy to automate actions like profile visits, sending requests, and messages. For example, this could be valuable if you want to automatically visit and connect with HR managers from a specific industry. However, it's crucial to be methodical and segment well, or you might leave a wrong impression.?? There is never a second chance to make a good first impression!
• Using LinkedIn Sales Navigator for job searching can also be of great value because it allows you to create lists of companies and people (leads), follow their activity, create org charts based on decision-making, create tags, train the algorithm to recommend profiles, and much more. I won't open this can of worms, as it would warrant an entire article.
• Another super helpful tool for tracking your CV (if you've been moving it a lot) is DocSend . It lets you know when someone opens it, from where, how long they look at it, what they read the most, whether they allow (or not) downloading, etc. Fantastic! Something similar can be done with emails if you download Mailtrack , a marvel for Gmail.

MAGIC: AI for job hunting!

If you aim for top honors as a job seeker, lean on AI tools to boost your efficiency.

• Essential yet powerful tools like ChatGPT , Claude , or Gemini can help you quickly create or tailor CV content for a specific offer, make summaries, translate texts, craft personalized LinkedIn requests, quickly understand what a company does, and hundreds more use cases. Here's a guide of exciting prompts for this situation, and if you have yet to try any, you're missing out.I recommend using a complementary tool like Grammarly to improve grammatical structure, avoid spelling errors, and eliminate irrelevant words.If you want to add a human touch to your texts because AI isn't perfect yet, consider using Undetectable AI or visit the GPT Store and explore the available GPTs designed for that .
• Building on the previous point, you can search online for the best prompts to enhance every aspect of your job search .
• If you want to create a CV, get inspired by a library of resumes organized by disciplines (programming, marketing, finance, etc.), and have a search engine by type of position and keyword recommender, you can use Rezi.ai . It also allows you to create Cover Letters and even resignation letters quickly.
• If you want to improve your CV and LinkedIn profile, ResumeWorded offers instant feedback, which is very handy. Another tool that can be a game-changer in optimizing your resume to stand out is Jobscan .
• Today, you must learn how to use Canva , an endless source of customizable graphic resources for countless cases, such as a LinkedIn Header, an original CV, presentations, infographics, or practically any idea.And for crafting a unique photo for LinkedIn or your resume, don't hesitate to try Profile Pic Maker —super easy to use!

• You can see how Prepper.ai works for practicing interviews. You write the desired position, description, and company data and select the difficulty. It will prepare you with typical questions for the role and evaluate your answers, even suggesting typical responses if you're stuck.

?? There are hundreds of AI tools on the internet for any need related to a selection process, but I won't go on any longer.

Don't make common mistakes!

Think like a recruiter.

At the end of the process, a recruiter rejects 99% of applicants and is tired of seeing many CVs and LinkedIn profiles.

That's why it's crucial to be different when presenting yourself. Be brief and concise, and explain what makes you unique, your significant achievements, and what you can contribute. You can avoid the classic mistake of listing tasks and knowledge that are assumed you know. Less is more, and please be careful with spelling mistakes, as they are an instant rejection ?.

For your LinkedIn profile, please use keywords related to the recruiter's search intention for that specific position. When applying, always appear as the most obvious candidate with a perfect fit.

?? Hiring managers are risk-averse.

Also, remember the Headline, which is the first thing they will read, and your location, which can often be a factor for rejection.

Lastly, please tailor your resume for the specific position and constantly personalize your message if you're sending emails, InMails, or LinkedIn requests.

If you want them to spend time on your CV, they must see that you've also invested time in it as well.

Be wary of the "Open to Work" feature on LinkedIn.

If you're job hunting, LinkedIn offers two visibility options for this:

1. The public #OpenToWork is visible to all LinkedIn users and added to your profile photo frame.
2. The private #OpenToWork is visible only to recruiters with the Recruiter Lite or Professional account, excluding those from your company.

I recommend the latter option because sometimes, a recruiter might get the wrong impression of someone publicly #OpenToWork, thinking there might be a hidden reason for it.

Resilience is key!

The feeling you get when you apply for a job and get rejected is very similar to what a salesperson feels when their proposal is turned down or what an entrepreneur feels when an investor decides not to invest.

These situations have one thing in common: it's expected to hear "NO."

Therefore, you must be mentally prepared from the start, and by this, I don't mean being negative or pessimistic. More likely than not, they won't share the real reason for their decision ??.

If you've been interviewed, always ask for the reason for your rejection when possible, as it will help you improve for future opportunities.

Please don't jump to conclusions like you're not good enough; it's more likely you're not what they're looking for at the moment, or you weren't able to convey it for whatever reason. Everyone has bad days ??.

The only option is to keep pushing harder than ever until you break the statistic. It's said that bad luck shows up on its own, but good luck needs to be found.

?? If you've made it this far, congratulations. This has been a dense post, but I wanted to cover all the crucial points for those searching for job opportunities.

Please share it with anyone who might find it valuable.

Before ending, I could name some people who pushed me to write this article, but don't worry, I'll keep the secret ??.

?? Here's to all of you who strive and work hard to find a job that excites you. With perseverance and effort, the results will come.

Go for it! ?? Thanks!

Bosqui